Worcester vet receives WWII military decoration from the Netherlands

Thursday

Mar 28, 2013 at 6:00 AM

By Linda Bock TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Herbert H. Adams, a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division and veteran of the Battle of the Bulge who is well-known in the Worcester area for his decades of work with Scouts, and his dedication to maintaining the city’s parks and monuments, may soon be known in the Netherlands as well.

Film crews from overseas joined local news crews Wednesday to record a ceremony at the Worcester Senior Center to recognize Mr. Adams with a distinguished award from the government of the Netherlands.

Hans Gieskes, the Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, bestowed the prestigious military decoration called Militaire Willems Orde on Mr. Adams, 89, in recognition of his participation in Operation Market Garden on Sept. 17, 1944, over Nijmegen.

“This will be seen on national TV in Holland on Liberation Day,” Mr. Gieskes said. Liberation Day is celebrated by the Dutch each year on May 5, to mark the end of the occupation by Nazi Germany during World War II.

The award came about because Tjarco Schuurman, 30, of Hoofddorp, Netherlands, discovered that Mr. Adams was the only member of the 82nd Airborne Division somehow left out when his entire division was recognized on Oct. 8, 1945, in the Netherlands.

“I wrote a letter to the queen’s office to see if it was possible to get Herb his decoration,” Mr. Schuurman said. He sent the letter on March 27, 2012. Queen Beatrix forwarded the request to her country’s Ministry of Defense, which approved the request in November and sent the orange shoulder cord for Mr. Adam’s military uniform to Mr. Gieskes at the Netherlands Consulate in Boston.

“I never guessed I would be here,” Mr. Schuurman said of the brief trip to Worcester that Mr. Gieskes helped arrange. “It’s an honor to be here. It was a big shot, but I’m happy it worked. I’m kind of proud that I emailed to find that paratrooper.”

Mr. Adams received a rousing standing ovation as he accepted the award and dozens of attendees elbowed one another for a chance to take a photo of him as the military decoration was affixed to his uniform. His wife of 70 years, Beverly, wearing a red rose corsage, and his two sons and daughter-in-law attended the ceremony. His only daughter passed away in October.

“I accept this for all of those who didn’t come back,” Mr. Adams said. He then paid tribute to all the Dutch people who supported the Americans and the Dutch underground operatives who risked their lives to aid the liberation efforts. He remembered the Dutch people, who were starving themselves, lining the street to give the passing soldiers apples and bread.

Mr. Adams fought in the Battle of the Bulge, playing a key role in the capture of an entire German company. After the German surrender, Mr. Adams was assigned as a personal bodyguard to Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. He would meet President Eisenhower once more when he visited Worcester during his presidential campaign.

City Manager Michael V. O’Brien, who said has known and admired Mr. Adams for more than 20 years, shared several stories about him at the ceremony, including the time Mr. Adams and a buddy decided to sit in Gen. Eisenhower’s chair. When military officials debated having the pair court-martialed, Gen. Eisenhower intervened and told Mr. Adams that service men were welcome to sit in his chair anytime.

“Herb is a class act,” Mr. O’Brien said. “It is a great honor and privilege to pay tribute to a man I hold in the highest regard.”

Most historians agree the Battle of the Bulge was a turning point on the Western front of World War II. The battle, fought in Belgium from Dec. 16, 1944, until Jan. 25, 1945, was the last major German offensive of the war.

Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray said the day was one of gratitude to Mr. Adams for the service he has given to country, the Netherlands and Worcester.

Veteran and historian Christian de Marcken, of West Boylston, called the program to order and Vernon Hill Post 435 posted the Colors. The Dutch and U.S. national anthems were played to begin the ceremony. Dr. John E. McAuliffe, a Worcester resident and retired president of the Central Massachusetts Chapter 22 of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, congratulated Mr. Adams on behalf of veterans. .

The well-attended ceremony was organized by the Worcester Senior Center and Chapter XXII of the Central Massachusetts Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge.

Contact Linda Bock at lbock@telegram.com. Follow her on Twitter @LindaBockTG

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